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Our Bench Accessible Self Catering Holidays
Our Bench - New Forest Accessible Accommodation

Places to visit gallery of ideas

A gallery of photos taken in and around the New Forest, to encourage you to explore and suggest ideas of places to visit and activities you may enjoy.

New Forest Lavender

New Forest Lavender is a lovely spot to enjoy in the summer.

Shley Walk

Ashley Walk is known for being a bombing range during the 2nd World War.

Baby Geese at Cadmans Pool

Cadmans Pool in the New Forest is a favorite spot for birds.

Tracion Engines

The New Forest Show, Hampshire Show or Netley Marsh Steam Engine Rally.

Hatchet Pond

Sunrise at Hatchet Pond near Bealieu - you can park right there!

Cycling in the New Forest

Cycling in the New Forest near the Ladycross estate

Map reading

Map reading in the New Forest - we provide a map for you to use during your stay

Carriage Ride

A carriage ride through the New Forest in Winter

Hurst Castle

Watersports on Keyhaven River near Hurst Castle

Something for every season

The New Forest has a huge variety of opportunities to explore whatever the season, and this gallery will highlight just some of the opportunities available to you.

Frosty Morning

Frosty morning at Hatchet Pond

Fishing Boats

Fishing boats on Lymington Quay.

Horse Riding

Horse Riding in the New Forest

Cattle

Cattle roam freely and graze the forest lawns

Furzey House

Furzey Gardens, a magical garden with fairy doors and a thatched tea room.

Lymington Sea Wall

A walk along the sea wall near Lymington's Sea Water Baths

New Forest Ponies

You do not have to travel far to see a New Forest pony and a foal in May.

Milford on Sea

A fantastic cliff top walk at Milford on Sea in the winter sunshine.

Wildlife Park

Family fun at New Forest Wildlife Park.

Ferrai Day

Ferrari Day in July in Lymington - amazing supercars to view.

Kite Surfing

Kite Surfing along Hurst Spit near Keyhaven.

New Forest Stag

A Stag in early Autumn near Ober Corner car park.

Holiday Photoshoots

If you would like some photos to treasure whilst on holiday in the New Forest - we can arrange that for you, free of charge with a fantastic offer for exclusive to our guests. For more details visit Photoshoots in the New Forest - Our Bench Exclusive Offer.

New Forest Wheelchair Photography

Lois and David staying in Little Bench on a photoshoot in the New Forest

Capturing holiday memories

A magical story time with Sam in Bench Cottage

Holiday for two

Tresured Holiday memories for Lois and David at Little Bench

We would like to inspire you to explore the area

We love living in the forest, and those are photos of places we have visited and friends we have enjoyed the area with over the last few years - some places will change with time, but we are still sharing them with you as that way you may discover the changes when you explore too!

New Forest Wildlife Park

Close encounters at New Forest Wildlife Park

Milford on Sea

Lymington Bandstand at Bath Road has a regular program.

Milford on Sea

Milford on Sea sunset

Standing Hat

Autumn forest walks from Standing Hat car park.

Testwood Lake

Summer picnics at Testwood Lakes.

Autumn by Bike

Autumn bike ride near Highland Corner car park

testwood lakes

The Iron Age house at Testwood Lake Nature reserve

Surfers at Boscombe

Surfers at Boscombe.

Lepe

Lepe beach, great views of the Solent.

Open Spaces, Forest and Sea views

Whatever the weather there is so much to explore around the South Coast, lots of open spaces and quiet spots to enjoy all year round as well as busier places to visit, new activities to try and fun for all the family!

Romsey Show

Romsey Show is in September, the New Forest Show is in July - both fantastic events.

Boscombe Pier

Sunset on Boscombe Pier.

New Forest Pony

Ponies near Beachen Wood Car park.

Pedall New Forest

Pedall New Forest - enjoying an accessible bike ride.

Libertys

Close encounters at Libertys

Furzey Gardens

Furzey Gardens in Summer

Knightwood Oak

A forest walk near Knightwood Oak

Bird Watching

Bird Watching is very popular on the Lymington to Keyhaven coastal path.

artist at work

An artist at work near Castle Hill, inspired by the natural beauty of the New Forest.

Lymington URC

A secret garden hidden behind Lymington URC in the High Street.

Views to Hurst Castle

The walk from Keyhaven back to Lymington along the nature reserve

Exbury Gardens

Exbury Gardens near Beaulieu is a lovely garden to explore

New Forest Wildlife Images

Local photographer - with a donkey foal in summer.

Keyhaven

An 11 year old guest enjoying the spring sunshine at Keyhaven

Explore the Solent

Just a 8km accessible walk from your holiday cottage.

Variety with every season

We are often asked what time of year is the best time to visit the New Forest and south coast, and that is a really hard question to answer, having been lucky enough to live in the area all my life, I love the fact that every season the forest changes - there is always something different to say, you can watch the animals change at grow, see a variety of migrating birds and the sea changes daily.

Deer near Ober Corner

A walk into the forest near Ober Corner carpark, you may be lucky and spot Fallow deer.

Milford on Sea

Milford on Sea has a lovely cafe.

East Boldre

Drive through the forest and ponies are grazing on the verges

Avon Beach

Avon Beach - lovely sandy beach, a tarmac promenade and ice cream!

Pedall New Forest

Pedall New Forest - enjoying an accessible bike ride.

Wilveryly Enclosure

Wilverly Enclosure, great for dog walking and a circular route to follow.

Open Spaces, Forest and Sea views

Whatever the weather there is so much to explore around the South Coast, lots of open spaces and quiet spots to enjoy all year round as well as busier places to visit, new activities to try and fun for all the family!

Oceanarium

Meeting the fish in the Oceanarium

Bolton Bench

The landmark Yew Tree near Lyndhurst known as Bolton's Bench.

Lymington

The court yards behind the shops become entertainment space in Lymington during the summer

Lymington Carnival

Lymington Carnival is held in July every year.

Market day

Every Saturday in Lymington there is a traditional market in Lymington.

Longlsade

The ponies graze as the heather blooms in September near Longslade Bottom.

Highcliffe castle

Highcliffe Castle - tea rooms and a walk through the nature reserve.

Hatchet Moor

Park alongside the lily ponds at Hatchet Moor.

Buckers Hard

The historic village of Buckers Hard once famouse for its ship building.

A roe deer

Picnic Time in the New Forest

Bournemouth Airshow

The Bournemouth Airshow is an amazing 4 days festival of planes towards the end of August.

Boldrewood

The forestry commission feed the deer at Boldrewood during the summer.

The New Forest has so many accessible places to explore

We keep adding ideas and photos to these page, to showcase just many of the different opportunities that are available to you all year round.

St Barbes Museum and Museum in Lyminggton

St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery - a great way to discover more about Lymington's smuggling past!

Lepe Beach

Lepe beach is a lovely spot for dog walking, and a stunning cafe whatever the weather.

Archery

Have a go at Archery with an instructor.

Quiet times and exciting activties

The New Forest area is stunning and offers a real variety of opportunities whether you are seeking out quiet moments or exciting activities and we are always happy to advise and give suggestions that are suitable for you.

Bolderwood

Watching for deer at Boldrewood

Lepe

The tiny lighthouse at Lepe.

Family walks

Family walks in the New Forest

Lymington

Sunset on the Lymington to Keyhaven nature reserve

Bluebells

Bluebell woods appear in the New Forest in May

Donkey Foals

Donkey Foals in a New Forest Car Park - these are wild animals, so please do not feed them.

Hurst Castle Lighthouse

The Lighthouse at Hurst Castle along the shingle bank.

Foxgloves

Foxgloves appear in the New Forest in June.

New Forest Foals

Driving round the forest, the New Forest foals feed by the roadside.

Forest Ponies

The forest ponies graze on buttercup covered lawns in summer.

Freedom

Freedom to follow your own path and explore safely as a family.

Railway Line

Summer on a disused railway line - now a cycle path and a pleasent walk.

Lymington Quay

Lymington Quay in summer

Bournemouth AirShow

Spend time in Bournemouth

Picnics

Picnics at Amberwood in the New Forest

Free activities and paid for attractions

The New Forest area has plenty to offer whatever your holiday budget - the forest and coast is free to access and is enjoyed by families of all ages - spending time together making memories is the best way to spend a holiday we think!

tadploe spotting

Tadpole spotting and stone tossing at Janesmoor Pond.

Hegistbury Head

Enjoying a coffee at Hengistbury head - lots of regular customers fly in here!

Hatchet Moor

Bring a chair, sit back and watch the dragonflies at Hatchet Moor.

Dog walking at dusk

Dusk evening being enjoyed by dog walkers.

Moors Valley

Amazing family fun on a Woodland play trail at Moors Valley Country Park.

Longdown

Meeting the animals at Longdown Activity Farm

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